Training & Experience

Training:

Although I have a BFA degree and have had diverse voice training, my whole life, the most important training I've received comes from two expert sources:

Seth Riggs, Los Angeles-based voice teacher to Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban, Julie Andrews, Prince, Bernadette Peters, Madonna, and countless other pop and Broadway, and opera stars--over 130 Grammy and Tony winners, all told.Mr. Riggs eventually named his method Speech Level Singing (SLS) and started a worldwide teacher training and certification program that I was a part of from 2008-2013. I studied directly with Mr. Riggs from 2011-2013.

Dr Ingo Titze, voice scientist, based in Utah and Colorado. Dr Titze is currently the most published voice scientist in the world. Studying with Dr. Titze helped me better understand why the exercises I taught, as an SLS teacher, worked so well, and how I could better build on what I'd learned to create my own method.

Full Voice Training:

2015: Estill training course in Vancouver.

2015: Somatic Voicework Method workshop, led by founder Jeannette LoVetri, a prominent New York-based voice coach to many Broadway and pop stars.

2013-2014: Voice Symposium in Salt Lake City, led by Dr. Ingo Titze (see above). Also presenting was Dr. Reena Gupta, a laryngologist to many stars in the Los Angeles area.

2012: Studied with Jeffrey Skouson (Las Vegas). Notable clients include The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Panic! At the Disco, as well as finalists on American Idol and The Voice.

2011: Speech Level Singing Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

2009: Seth Riggs Teaching Observation, Los Angeles.

2009: Speech Level Singing (SLS) Teachers Conference in Los Angeles.

1997: BFA Honours in Music degree from York University.

1997-2007: Voice Lessons with Spencer Welch (part-time)

1994-1995: Voice Lessons/Observation with Bill Vincent (Toronto). Bill Vincent was on faculty at Sheridan College and the vocal consultant for Miss Saigon in Toronto.

1994-1995: Studied Alexander Technique in Vancouver and Toronto. This technique teaches performers how to attain a high degree of muscle awareness and relaxed healthy posture while singing/speaking/performing, which can reduce vocal strain.